Riverside International Automotive Museum (RIAM) Bringing Gems
Organizers of the first annual Desert Concorso, featuring Italian racing and sporting cars, have announced that the Riverside International Automotive Museum (RIAM), which holds the most extensive collection of Maseratis in the United States, will display eight of these magnificent cars at the Concorso. RIAM’s collection includes an example of every Maserati model that has been made available in the U.S. since 1951, and their team is bringing vehicles from a six decade span. From the 1951 A6G 2000 Pinin Farina Coupe to the 2008 8C Competizione, the beauty and history of these classic vehicles will intrigue the Concorso’s audience.
Maserati prides itself on its long and glorious heritage. Officine Alfieri Maserati was founded on December 1, 1914 in Bologna, Italy. Since then, Maserati has played a consistently important role in the history of sports car culture and its development. Nearly a century of activity has brought with it glorious achievements both on the road and the track as well as more challenging times, which have helped forge the company’s character and personality. Its relocation from Bologna to the current site in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena in 1940, and its acquisition by Ferrari in 1997, are among the major events in the development of Maserati’s expansion strategies and the launch of its new cars.
There will be more than 100 classic and contemporary cars at the event from as far away as Minnesota and New York, and their owners will be on hand to discuss their histories. In addition to all of the great Italian marques, Desert Concorso also invites historically important GT, racing and sporting cars from Europe as well as some American hot rods with exceptional engineering and design qualities.
“True to the Monterey Concorso Italiano’s style, Desert Concorso promises to be a prominent staple event in the Southern California region,” notes Concorso Italiano President Tom McDowell. “We look forward to incorporating all things Italian, including cuisine by Ristorante Mamma Gina, music the International Opera Institute, art by Italian automotive artist Monica Lotti, along with great fashion into the inaugural Desert Concorso.”
The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles will also be joining the inaugural Desert Concorso. It’s a spectacular automotive museum that pays tribute to cars of historical significance from all continents. Chief Curator Leslie Kendall is providing special cars with European design and badging that have a specific relevance to the Desert Concorso.
Desert Concorso, which benefits Desert ARC, has been designated an official event of the City of Palm Desert and will take place at the Shadow Mountain Resort in South Palm Desert on March 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $70 and El Paseo Club tickets, which include access to the exclusive El Paseo Club Pavilion, are $300. For more information and the press credential application, please visit www.desertconcorso.com.
